Information systems management is an exciting, dynamic field
with numerous areas and applications that can lead to a wide range of
challenging and rewarding careers.

Information systems process information. In order to be
processed, information must be represented in such a way that it can be
manipulated by a machine - the computer.

This course answers the question, How does a computer work?

All instructions and information on a computer are ultimately represented as
a series of binary digits - 0 and 1. Therefore, the computer is a physical
device that must be based on binary digital logic. From this logic, physical
components (hardware) such as memory and processors are designed. These
components must respond to given instructions (software).

This course examines the organization and operation of a digital electronic
computer from the digital logic used to build the hardware components to the
instructions used to manipulate the hardware components. The course also
examines general hardware and software components, with a specific focus on the
operating system functions. Specifically, this course has the following
objectives:

Provide a basic understanding
of how various types of information such as characters, numbers, pictures,
sounds, movies, and instructions are represented on a computer system.

Provide a basic understanding
of binary digital logic including the basic Boolean functions and how they
are used to build useful hardware components such as flip-flops,
registers, counters, decoders, encoders, multiplexers, and adders.

Provide an understanding of
the basic organization of a computer system in terms of digital hardware
components and how software instructions are executed using the digital
components at the machine level.

Provide an understanding of
the fundamental hardware and software components of a computer system.

Provide and understanding of
the differences between application and system software focusing on the
functions provided by an operating system such as process management,
memory management, and how it performs those functions.

Research and present
information about specific information systems (hardware and software)
showing the ability to effectively communicate acquired knowledge
pertaining to this course.